What’s tactical urbanism? The latest buzzword in the urban planning movement is being used to describe low-cost, easy-to-implement action plans that temporarily transform an environment and possibly lead to long-term change.
Still sound like jargon? Examples of tactical urbanism in Memphis have included “New Face for Old Broad” (a two-day arts and retail pop-up fest along Broad Avenue in November 2010), National PARK(ing) Day (when artists turned downtown parking spots into mini-parks for a day last year), and food truck rodeos.
The Mayor’s Innovation Delivery Team, which is tasked with boosting economic recovery in three Memphis neighborhoods, is partnering with the Street Plans Collaborative to host a free Tactical Urbanism Salon on September 22nd at 363 S. Main from 1 to 6 p.m. The meeting will allow residents to learn new ideas and approaches for instituting tactical urbanism projects in their neighborhoods.
“The Innovation Delivery Team is charged with finding new strategic ways to confront big urban problems, and that’s really what tactical urbanism is all about,” said Tommy Pacello, project manager for the team. “By our very nature, Memphians are creative, fearless, disruptive people who love to get our hands dirty. That’s why the tactical urbanism events that have taken place here so far have been successful.”
